Christopher Newton sentenced for masturbating in Warwick park

A victim using a toilet just metres from a popular children’s playground was startled to turn around and find a man watching him and carrying out an indecent act.

A Warwick man has pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act in public after being busted performing a sex act on himself in a popular park.

A man who performed a sex act on himself while watching another man use a public toilet in a popular Warwick park told his victim he was “washing his hands” when busted in the act.

Christopher John Newton was caught by his victim while masturbating as the other man relieved himself in the Jackie Howe Park toilet block, which is just metres from the park’s playground and nearby to two junior sporting fields.

The Warwick Magistrates Court was told the victim, a 33-year-old man, went into the toilet on August 12 to urinate and “in his haste” did not close the door behind him.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess noted the victim at one point turned around to find the 61-year-old outside the open cubicle door and performing the lewd act.

“The victim immediately looked at the floor in embarrassment, and said ‘what the f--k are you doing?’” Ms Sturgess said.

The man warned Newton to “get out of here before you get hurt”, and immediately pushed past him and reported the shocking incident to police.

A Warwick man has pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act in public after being busted performing a sex act on himself in a popular park.

When officers located Newton, who the court was told lived within a two-minute drive of the park, he denied knowing the victim or having any recollection of the event.

Ms Sturgess said she accepted Newton was not someone who ordinarily engaged in such lewd behaviour but made it clear his actions were unacceptable.

“I am not given any explanation as to why you did this or what the background to it was, whether you had misunderstood something, I don’t know. Certainly there was no explanation given,” she said.

“People using a public place are entitled to not be exposed to indecent behaviour and likewise people who are using public toilets are entitled not to be confronted in this way.”

Newton pleaded guilty to one count of committing an indecent act in public, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail.
He was fined $400 and no conviction was recorded.